Die for cutting box blanks



March 18, 1958 H. F. PHILLIPS DIE FOR CUTTING BOX BLANKS Filed Aug. 31, 1955 A m m w.

HENRY E H/LL/PJ fro/emf YJ Henry F. Phillips, Oakland, Calif., assignor to Floseal Corporation, Seattle, Waslu, a corporation of Delaware Application August 31, 1953, Serial No. 377,411

1 Claim. or. 9358) This invention relates to an improved die for cutting and creasing box blanks.

Heretofore dies for forming box blanks have usually consisted of cutting and creasing rules supported between pieces of plywood or the like that have been cut to an outline that substantially follows the contours of the rules supported between the pieces, and a frame of plywood or of the same material as that of the pieces between the rules surrounds the assembly of rules and said pieces of wood.

While dies formed in this manner have been used for many years and still are the type commonly used, they have many objectionable features. Unless the pieces of wood that space and support the cutting and creasing rules are accurately cut, the blanks cut by the die may not fold together properly in setting up the box. Also, and more objectionable, the rules will not remain fixed, but gradually shift, due to strains placed on the wooden spacers which they are not capable of withstanding by the very nature of wood, which is compressible and elastic to a degree. As the wooden pieces incur changes through compressive forces, strains, humidity or temperature conditions or a combination of some or all of these factors, the rules become loosened or shift their positions and the carton blanks are inaccurately formed. Many times faulty blanks may be cut by the die for aconsiderable period of time before it is discovered, and at other times the dies may be erratic in their work, forming satisfactory blanks during periods of time that alternate with the forming of faulty blanks.

Many years ago the idea ofscrewing rules to backing strips and then screwing the backing strips to a wooden platen or bed was conceived as a solution to the difliculty experienced with the shifting of the cutting and creasing rules, but such structure was abandoned due to the fact that the cost was prohibitive and the results were not satisfactory. The backing strips, being held against the strains developed in the cutting of blanks by no other means than strips to which the rules in turn were screwed (and which strips in turn were secured to a platen) failed to retain their positions for a satisfactory length of time under the .severe conditions imposed.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of a die for cutting box blanks that overcomes the objections to the die hereinbefore described.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a die for cutting box blanks that has a construction enabling all of the elements of the die to be securely held together for safe handling as a unit, with the rules up right or inverted, and which die may be quickly and easily disassembled as a whole or in any desired part. Thus one or more rules may be changed without disassembling the entire die.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a die thatis virtually indestructible and permanent except for the rules, and which die incorporates within its outline quickly actuated means for making all parts of the die secure against displacement of one or more elements thereof during handling of the die, and an additional object is the provision of simple, economical, rugged and reliable structure in a die of the characer described whereby certain parts of thedie may be loosened for replacement of parts without releasing other parts.

nitcd States Patent F 2,826,968 Patented Mar. 18, 1958 Another object is the provision of a compact, light weight, all metal die having all of the advantages of the present dies used for cutting box blanks, but free from the objections to such dies.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the description and in the drawings.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a die of this invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1 but with certain sections broken out and omitted to accommodate the view to the sheet.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the blocks or 7 pieces employed for tightening other blocks and also cutting and creasing rules within the die.

In detail, it may be here pointed out that, except where specifically noted, the cutting and creasing rules in themselves are of conventional structure.

The invention as herein illustrated, comprises a rectangular frame having elongated frame members 1, 2, 3, 4 forming the four sides, the members 1, 3 being in opposed relation and members 2, 4 are in opposed relation.

Each of said members may be in the form of a channel disposed on its side. The upper and lower sides of each channel are designated 5, 6 (Fig. 2) and the vertically disposed bottom section is designated 7. The bottom section 7 of each frame member is fiat and vertical thus providing surfaces facing inwardly into the frame against which the cutting rules 8 may be positioned.

The ends of the frame members 1 to 4 inclusive extend angularly outwardly at substantially 45 degrees. Tightening screws or bolts 9 extend through the opposed outwardly'extending end portions 10 of the bottoms 7 of the frame members (Figs. 1, 2) for adjustably securing the adjacent ends of adjacent frame members together.

Within the frame are held the various cutting and creasing rules for forming the box blank.

The creasing rules are blunt along their exposed edges for forming creases in cardboard pressed thereagainst while the cutting rules have sharp edges. For example, in addition to rules 8, the rules 12 may be cutting rules while rules 13 may be the creasing rules; and in some instances perforating rules are used in place of creasing rules, particularly where parts of a carton are to be torn away and lines of weakness are to be formed. Scoring rules partially cut through the cardboard, and these may be substituted where desired without altering the present invention. The only differences between the rules is in whether their exposed and projecting edges are sharp, rounded, blunt, or broken into sections (for slitting), and the degree to which they project from the body that holds them.

In the die illustrated it will be seen that rectangular blocks 14 form two of the largest portions of the die inwardly of the frame members, and creasing rules 13 fit against each of the vertical, flat outer sides of the blocks.

Each block 14 is hollowed out on its underside to reduce the weight leaving ribs 15 to provide rigidity and strength. The side walls 16 of the block define the edges, and, as already stated, these are flat and vertical on their outer sides so that rules 13 when thereagainst will be absolutely vertical.

Between the blocks 14, 15 is an oblong block 17 that is obliquely divided centrally of its ends into two sections 18, 19 (Fig. 3). Midway between the obliquely extending edges 20, 21 of block 17 the said edges are formed with complementan'ly formed oppositely opening recesses 22, 23 that extend across said edges and that are tapered from the upper side of the block to the lower side to engage the threads of a tapered screw 24 (Fig. 2). Upon driving the screw 24 longitudinally thereof (transversely of the edges 20, 21) the sections 18, 19 will be moved apart in directions generally normal to the edges 20, 21 so that each of the sections 18, 19 will be simultaneously urged against the adjacent rules at each of two opposite corners of the space within which block 17 is positioned. @It is to be noted ,that other rules 13 extend along the longitudinallyextendingopposite edges of the blocltl8 to hold the last mentioned rules against the adjacent edges of blocks 14.

. Along eachJof the frame members 1 to 4. inclusive is a rule 8, and blocks 26,27 are respectively disposed between the. rules 8 that are alongside frame members 1, 3 and the rules 13 that are parallel therewith and against the edges of blocks "14.

Each of these blocks 26, 27is divided in the same manner as the central block 17 and are elongated in the same direction as the latter with a central expanding screw 28 the same as for said central block 17. Preferably the blocks 26, 27 are divided along oblique lines that extend in exactly the opposite direction to the edges 20, 21 of the central block.

If desired one. of the sections of each block 26, 27 may be recessed to receive a still smaller block, such as 29 for block 26 and 30 for block 27 and which smaller blocks have rules 31, 32rigidly imbedded therein. Said blocks 29, 30 may be substantially identical with the devices or inserts for'forming spo'ut structure in carton blanks, as disclosed in mycopending application Serial No. 315,896, filed October 21, 1952.

Adjacent to block 27 and separated therefrom by rules 33 may be another block 34.

Upontightening the screws '28, it will be seen that all of the rules and blocks outwardly of opposite ends of each of the blocks 26, 27 will be tightened, including the blocks 29, 30. d

Alongside the frame members 2 4, as already mentioned, are cutting rules 8, and between cutting rule 8 that is along frame member 2 and the blocks 14 are blocks. 38, 39 that are identical in structure with block 17. Block 38 is coextensive withthe edge of one block 14 that is adjacent thereto and block 39is coextensive with the edge of the'other block 14 that is adjacent thereto.

On the other edge of the die along rule 8 thatis against the frame member 4 are blocks40, 41 that are identical with the blocks 38, 39, and which blocks are also respectively coextensive with the edges of the blocks 14 that are adjacent thereto.

These blocks 38, 39 are in alignment along the inner side of frame member 2 and extend longitudinally of the latter, and blocks 40, 41 aresimilarly in alignment along frame member 4 and extendlongitudinally of said frame member. d I i p Sections43, 44. make up the block and screw 45 between the sections is adapted to cause them to move apart in direction generallynormal to the line of division defining the adjacentsides of the sections, while sections the sections. Sections 49,50 and 5 0, 51 makeup blocks 38, 39 and screws 52, 53 are between the sections of each block 38, 39 for spreading the sections thereof.

One or more blocks 55 are disposed between the adjacent ends of blocks 40, 41 with corner blocks 56 between the opposite outer end of block 40 and the end of frame member 3, while block 34 extends into the corner that is adjacent the outer end of. block 41. Rules may be provided between the blocks 56.

Upontightening the screws 45, 48 it is obvious that blocks 40, 41 will be expanded to tighten the blocks against the rules.

, Blocks 60 may be between the adjacent ends of blocks 38, 39 and against the cutting rules that extend along the adjacent end edges of said blocks, While corner blocks 62 may be in one corner of the frame outwardly of block 39, while block 61 may be in the opposite corner of the frame adjacent to the outer end of block 38.

Upori tightening screws 52, 53 the blocks 38, 39 may be expanded to tighten the blocks against the rules.

If blocks 29, 30 for spout structure are not used, the die will form the blank for a conventional folding box or carton, but where they are used, the spout structure in the blank will be absolutely accurate.

After all blocks and rules are tightened in the die, they cannot possibly be shifted or changed without loosening some of the screws. However, all screws need not be loosened. Normally such loosening is for the purpose of changing a rule. Handling of the die without danger of the blocks or rules falling out or shifting, and without the use of an excessively large frame with wedges and furniture around the die elements or a base that must be carried with the die, is a distinct advantage.

. In thepresentinvention expanding blocks such as 17, 26, 27, 38,39, 40, and 41 are preferably and usually so arranged that some extend perpendicular to others so as to be expandible indirections at right angles to each other. The die illustrated is typical. 1

. One important feature is that the means for tightenin the die elements and for holding the rules against tilting or shifting is within the frame. A; plurality of block assemblies couldbe placed in a row inside a larger frame having the characteristics of the present frame, and this is done when a plurality of cartons are simultaneously cut from a single blank. The end rules 8would be common to adjace'nt dies for adjacent cartons.

The expansible blocks enable selective removal and replacement of rules, or blocks such as 29, 30.

The blocks, as described,'and the frame, are preferably die cast in metal 'to the exact sizes and shapes desired, and the metal of blocks 29, 30 that carry rules 31, 32 is of a relatively low melting point and below that which would draw the temper from the steel rules when the metal is cast around theriiles.

It is to be understood that the detailed description is illustrative of a preferred form of the, invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to the precise details shown.

I claim:

In a diefor forming a carton blank from a sheet of cardboard, the combination eomprising; acentrally open frame, a plurality of spaced rules within said frame adapted to form the cuts. and creases in a sheet of card board to form said blank, certain of said rules extending perpendicularly to each other defining the outlines of rectangular spaces and expansible blocks positioned within said rectangular spaces, each of said blocks being substantially rectangular in outline to generally conform to the outline of thespace within which each block is positioned and each block being separated into two parts along a line extending obliquely thereacross between two of the opposite-edges thereof, and single tapered block expandingmeans between the two parts of each block positioned substantially centrally of the oblique line of separation of each block movable between said parts for urging said parts in directions generally .normal to the line of separation whereby said partswill be simultaneously urged against and toward the adjacent pairs of rules at diagonally opposite corners of the space within which each of said blocks is positioned.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

